A Victoria's Secret Angel claims that a magazine used nude photos of her without her consent

On Thursday, Sara Sampaio claimed via Instagram that she was forced to pose nude on the cover of Lui magazine.

Although the Victoria's Secret Angel claimed that she had established a "no nudity" agreement with the French men's magazine, she alleged that she felt "aggressively pressured" to pose nude.

One of the nude photos appeared on the autumn cover of Lui, allegedly without Sampaio's consent.

Now, Sampaio is working to seek legal action against the magazine.

The model felt compelled to share her story because other models and actresses have recently come forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

On Thursday, Sara Sampaio alleged in an Instagram post that she was coerced into posing nude during a recent photo shoot for Lui, a French men's magazine. The Victoria's Secret Angel claimed that one nude photo was used on the cover of the magazine without her consent.

Although Sampaio had allegedly established a "No Nudity" clause in her agreement with the magazine prior to the photo shoot, she said she felt "aggressively pressured to do nude shots on set."

"While reviewing the final images taken, I noticed that there were accidental exposures with parts of my body that I didn't want exposed. I spoke up and was assured that those images would not be used," she wrote.

That, according to Sampaio, was a lie. The fall cover of Lui featured an image that showed the model partially naked, which she claims "was in clear violation of [their] agreement."

Lui magazine has removed all images of the cover from its social media and website, though it's unclear if the pictures were taken down prior to the model's post. The magazine did not immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment about Sampaio's claims.

In her post, the model said that she felt betrayed by the magazine's decision to use a nude image of her without her consent.

"Just because I've consented to posing nude in the past, it does not give anyone the permission to assume I would do it again under any circumstance," she wrote. "I have the right to show my body how, when, where, and for whatever purpose I choose. It's my choice. And when I make that choice, I expect to be treated with respect and professionalism."

Sampaio also said that this wasn't a one-off experience.

"Like so many models, I've had negative experiences in the past where I felt pressured to pose nude. On many occasions where the shoot was not to have nudity, I would arrive on set and the photographer or stylist would pressure, cajole, or demand that I pose nude because I had done it in the past. I was bullied," she wrote.

She said that insidious tactics are often used to pressure models to consent to something they're uncomfortable with.

"Many times, I was showed nude images of myself as examples to coerce me into posing nude, and whenever I stood my ground and refused, I was criticized and judged as being difficult," Sampaio said.

The model wrote that she felt compelled to speak out because of the recent conversation surrounding sexually predatory behavior in the entertainment industry. She also said that she plans to seek legal action against Lui.

"What they did to me is unacceptable. I feel violated, mistreated, and disrespected as a professional and as a woman. I want to do what I can to prevent this from happening to me again, and to others," she wrote.

In her post, Sampaio said that bullying and harassment are common issues in the fashion industry.

"Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, and I am not alone. As models continue to share their harrowing experiences, the bullying and abuse that is systemic within the fashion industry will come to light," she wrote.

She concluded her post on an empowered note: "As models and as women, we need to stand together and demand the respect we deserve. We have the right to make our own individual choices about our bodies, our image, and our lives."

You can read her full post below:

"Today, I feel compelled to share a recent experience I had with the French men's magazine, Lui. I want every model and every woman to know they have the right to make their own choice about their body and image.

I had agreed to shoot the cover feature of Lui's autumn issue, under the condition that there was NO NUDITY. My agency and I insisted on having a clear agreement in place to protect myself in order to control the choice I made around not being shot nude.

Even with the 'No Nudity' clause in my agreement with Lui, I was aggressively pressured to do nude shots on set, asking me why I didn't want to show my nipples or go fully nude. Throughout the shoot day, I need to constantly defend myself and reiterate my boundaries with no nude images, making sure I covered myself as best as I could. While reviewing the final images taken, I noticed that there were accidental exposures with parts of my body that I didn't want exposed. I spoke up and was assured that those images would not be used. The magazine lied and proceeded to publish a cover image of me with nudity, which was in clear violation of our agreement.

Like so many models, I've had negative experiences in the past where I felt pressured to pose nude. On many occasions where the shoot was not to have nudity, I would arrive on set and the photographer or stylist would pressure, cajole, or demand that I pose nude because I had done it in the past. I was bullied. Many times, I was showed nude images of myself as examples to coerce me into posing nude, and whenever I stood my ground and refused, I was criticized and judged as being difficult.

I am comfortable with my body and with being nude in circumstances I consider a form of art — this process comes naturally, and is very thoughtful, creative, and collaborative. Throughout my career, I've been very selective with when and how I do shoots with nudity. Just because I've consented to posing nude in the past, it does not give anyone the permission to assume I would do it again under any circumstance. I have the right to show my body how, when, where, and for whatever purpose I choose. It's my choice. And when I make that choice, I expect to be treated with respect and professionalism.

Since the issue was released, I've been working with my agency and attorney to pursue legal action against Lui. What they did to me is unacceptable. I feel violated, mistreated, and disrespected as a professional and as a woman. I want to do what I can to prevent this from happening to me again, and to others. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, and I am not alone. As models continue to share their harrowing experiences, the bullying and abuse that is systemic within the fashion industry will come to light.

As models and as women, we need to stand together and demand the respect we deserve. We have the right to make our own individual choices about our bodies, our image, and our lives."

If you are a victim of sexual assault, you can visit RAINN or call its hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to receive confidential support from a trained staff member.